A “Franciscan Blessing”

May God bless you
with discomfort at easy answers,
half truths, and superficial relationships
so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you
with anger at injustice, oppression,
and exploitation of people
and all creation
so that you may work for justice, freedom, healing and peace.

May God bless you
with tears to shed for those who suffer pain,
rejection, hunger, and war,
so that you may reach out your hands
to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

May God bless you
with enough foolishness
to believe that you can make a difference in this world,
and do what others claim cannot be done. Amen.

The Sundays in Lent are not counted in the 40 days of Lent. On the Sundays in Lent we will share words of blessing. As Holy Week begins on the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday, I offer this “Franciscan Blessing.”

I do not know the original source of the Franciscan Blessing. I have seen this blessing in several different (almost-the-same) forms. As one Franciscan author puts it: “I do not know the origin of this ‘Franciscan’ blessing but, … it is a good counterbalance to the cosy ‘Francis of the birdbath’ spirituality!”